Rail and wheel-flange lubricator



Feb. 12, 1929.

. 1,701,549 R. E. WEEDON ET AL RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR- Filed June 14, 1927 2 Sheets+Sheet l gmemtoz Rick and E. Weedol John C, Weedozz 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1927 IH====H a R. E. WEEDON ET AL RAIL A ND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Feb. 12, 1929.

W MM Mm a gwue/ntoc RL'Cfid/"d Weedon u n/2n C. We eo on RICHARD WEEDON AND Jenn Fatented Feb. 12, 1929.

* UNITED STATES C. WEEDON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BAIL AND WHEEL-FLANGE LUBRICA'IOR.

Application filed June 14, 1927. Serial No. 198,776.

In the operation of railroads it is well known that the rails and the flanges of the wheels ofthe rollingstodk are subjected to severe frictional engagement at curves and require oiling to minimize the wear and obviate the screeching noise incident to the rubbing contact of the wheel flanges with the side of the rail head;

This invention provides for the automatic supply of oil to the side of the inner rail at curves, whereby to lubricate the point of contact between the side of therail head and the flanges of thewheels so as to obviate the ol jectional features her'einbefore enumerated, and such others as result fromthe frictional rubbing action between wheel flanges and track rails at curves.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be fun ders'tood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs andrequirements the design may be varied and such other changes 1n the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is tobe had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which,'

Figure 1 is a side view of a locomotive'engine and track provided with wheel flange and rail lubricating means embodying the invention the pilot and front portions of the locomotive being omitted.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the lubricator.

Figure t is a sectional view on the line t -4;

of Figure 3, looking to the left as designated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fi ure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona l view of the injector and parts intimately associated therewith. I

Figure 7 is a detail View of thedispensing nozzle.

The numeral 1 designates the track rails, and 2 the flange wheels of rolling stock, which it is the purpose of the present inven tion to automatically lubricate at curves, It is preferred to mount the lubricator upon the locomotive engine. However, it is to be un; derstood that the same may be inounted'in any determinate way. i The position of the lubricator is immaterial, and when mounted upon a locomotive engine'it 'is disposed in rear of the drive wheels, as indicatedmost clearly in Figure 1 of the drawings, so as not to affect the traction between the drive wheels and the rails of the track;

The lubricator includesa tank 3 which constitutes a container for holding the lubricant WillCll preferably consists of a heavy oil. To

render he heavy oil sufficiently fluid to flow. readily, it is necessary toheat the same, particularly in cold weather. For this purposea coil 4c is placed within the tank 3 and steam is adapted to be circulated therethrough by means of a pipe5 which leads from the cab of the locomotive engine or other, determinate point. Delivery pipes 6, two in number, lead from the bottom portion of the tank 3 and connect with distributingpipes 7 wherebythe lubricant is supplied to a side of thetrack rails, as indicated most clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. A valve mechanism isassociated with the tank 3 and comprises a casing 8 and a valve 9 therein, said valv'e'consisting of a disk in which is formed an opening 10. A, space 11 is formed in the casing 8 and is adapted to be supplied with steannpreferably the spent steam fromthe coil 4;. The distributing pipes 7 connect with passages formed in the cover plate 12 closing the 'openside of the valve casing 8. The passages l3'open into the space 11, as indicated most clearly inFigure 5 of the drawings. The valve 9 normally occupies a position with its opening 10 intermediate the receiving ends of the passages 13 opening into the space 11, so that a movement of the valve in either direction will connect its opening 10 with one or the other of the passages 13 to admit or the lubricant being supplied to one or the other of the track rails 1. The valve 9 is pendulum controlled, the

pendulum 14; being connected to the outer end of a shaft 15 which is mounted in the cover plate 12 and has the valve 9 connected to its inner end. hen the parts are in normal position, which theyoccupy when the locomotive engine is running upon a straight line of track 119 the valve 9 occupies a position to cut off communication between the space 11 and the passages 13. However, when a curve is reached the pendulum 1a is swung laterally and moves the valve 9 to connect its opening 10 with one or the other of the passages 13 depending upon the direction of the curve. This admits of steam flowing from the space 11 through the opening 10 into the passage 13, thence through the distributing pipes and resul ing in supplying oil to the sides of the inner rail whereby to lubricate the rubbing contact between the wheel flange and. rail in a manner readily appreciated. A nozzle 16 connects with the delivery end of each of the passages 18 and extends into the receiving end of the distributing pipes T and across the space of the delivery pipe 6. (When steam is flowing through the nozzle 16 it creates a suction in the delivery pipe 6, with the result that oil is drawn from the tank 3 into the delivery pipe 6 and is discharged theret'ron'i into the distributing pipe 7 through which it is forced by the jets'ot steam and delivered to the inner side of the track rail. The delivery end of each of the distributing pipes Y is rovided with a flat nozzle 17 which is arr in the plane of the head of the track r parallel thereto, so as to insure a posi ply of the lubricant thereto.

The steam flowing through the coils fl: renders the heavy oil used suiiicientlv fluid to flow readily throughthe delivery id dis uting pipes and this steam is further used to draw the oil from the tank 3 and cause it to flow positively through the delivery and distributing pipes in the manner stated. The pendulum 1% may be operated either by centrifugal force incident to travel around a curve or by the banking of the track at curves, or by the combined action of gravity and centrifugal force, as will be readily understood. Having thus described the invention, we claim: L 1. A rail and wheel flange lubricator comprising an oil containing tank, a delivery pipe leading from said tank, a distributing pipe connected with the delivery pipe, and a valve mechanism for controlling the supply of a fluid medlum to the distributing pipe which, in flowing therethrough, draws a supply of oil from the tank and delivers it to the rail and wheel flange to be lubricated, and a pendulum for automatically operating the valve mechanism and actuated by the travel of the moving part about a curve.

2. A rail and wheel flange lubricator comprising a tank adapted to receive a heavy oil, a steam coil within the tank for heating the oil therein to render the same fluid, a delivery pipe leading from the tank, a distributing pipe connected with the delivery pipe, a valve casing having the said steam coil and distributing pipe connected thereto, and a pendulum controlled valve within the casing for controlling the outflow of the steam there' from to the distributing pipes.

3. A rail and wheel flange lub'ricator, a tank adapted to receive a heavy oil, a steam coil within the-tank, delivery pipes leading from the tank, distributing pipes connected with the delivery pipes, a valve casing having the steam coil and the distributing pipes connected thereto, nozzles within the distributing pipes for creating a flow therethrough and a suction within the delivery pipes, a valve in the valve casing for controlling the outflow of fluid pressure therefrom to the distributing pipes, and a pendulum for automatically operating the valve and adapted to be actuated by the moving part when passing around a curve.

4. Means for lubricating ara il and wheel flange, the same comprising a tank, a steam coil therein, delivery pipes leading from the tank, distributing pipes connected with'the delivery pipe, a valve casing having a steam coil and distributing pipe connected thereto,

nozzles within the distributing pi )es for creating asuction therein whereby to draw oil from t'he tank, a valve within the valve casing, for controlling the outflow of steam therefrom to the distributing pipe, and a pendulum connected with the valve for automatic actuation thereof.

In testimony whereof we ailix. our signatures.

RICHARD n. WEEDON. L. a] JOHN C. wrinnoiv. 11.8. I 

